JP2003322151A - Straight motion guide unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a straight motion guide unit capable of firmly fixing an undersurface seal easily and certainly to a slider relatively moving on a track rail. <P>SOLUTION: The straight motion guide unit is structured so that a projection 8 formed at the tip with an engaging boss 11 protruding in the width direction and extending in the longitudinal direction is formed on the undersurface of the slider 2, and the undersurface seal 18 is formed with an opening 37 formed at least one side with a fitting recess 51 to admit the fitting of the projection 8 and an engaging pawl 50 engaged with the engaging boss 11 continuously to the fitting recess 51. The projection 8 formed on the slide 2 for fixing the undersurface seal 18 is formed on the flat bottom surface 32 of a steal part 16 on the track rail side formed on the undersurface 15 of an end cap 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention can be applied to various mechanical devices such as semiconductor manufacturing equipment, precision measuring / inspecting machines, and precision assembling machines. The present invention relates to a linear motion guide unit including a slider that moves relatively.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, linear motion guide units are currently
It is widely used by being incorporated in various equipment such as semiconductor manufacturing equipment and measurement / inspection equipment, but its application is expanding with the development of technology, which reduces noise, reduces wear, prolongs service life, high precision, The demands for high-speed sliding, ease of assembly, and generalization are increasing. In addition, in the linear motion rolling guide unit, it is possible to prevent foreign matter such as dust and dust from entering the raceway surface or the raceway surface or the like and obstructing relative sliding of the slider, or the linear motion rolling guide unit itself. The slider is equipped with a bottom seal to prevent the generated dust from being discharged to the outside.

Patent No. 3237 issued by the present applicant
Japanese Patent Publication No. 981 discloses a linear motion rolling guide unit in which a slider is provided with a lower surface seal. In the linear motion rolling guide unit, the lower surface seal can be easily attached and detached, and a sufficient height can be ensured between the lower surface of the slider and the lower end of the track rail while the slider is laid across the track rail.
In the linear motion rolling guide unit, the end cap forms a protrusion having a locking portion at the tip of the lower surface on the track rail side. The lower surface seal is composed of a core metal member and an elastic member, and the edge portion of the insertion hole formed in the elastic member is located inside the fitting hole formed in the core metal member. The lower surface seal is fitted to the protruding portion of the end cap while elastically deforming the edge portion, and the engaging portion is engaged with the edge portion of the fitting hole of the core metal member, that is, the engaging claw. The lower surface seal is arranged so as to fit in the space for grinding the grindstone of the casing.

[0004]

However, in the linear motion rolling guide unit described above, the lower surface seal provided on the slider has the first fitting hole and the second fitting hole partially misaligned with each other. Since the elastic member that constitutes the lower surface seal must be elastically deformed and inserted into the protrusion provided on the end cap of the slider when the lower surface seal is attached to the slider, Since the lower surface seal was pressed against the end cap against the elastic force of the elastic member, the mounting was troublesome. Further, since the locking projections provided on the projections of the end caps of the linear motion rolling guide unit are formed to extend toward the front surface or the back surface, they cannot be extended so long that they are The degree of engagement with the lower surface seal, that is, the degree of locking was small, and the locking was not always satisfactory.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and when a fitting recess provided in a lower surface seal is engaged with a projection provided in an end cap constituting a slider. Provide a linear motion guide unit in which the lower surface seal can be easily and reliably engaged by only slightly moving it in the longitudinal direction with respect to the end cap, and the lower surface seal is stably attached to the end cap. That is.

According to the present invention, there is provided a track rail having a first track surface formed on a side surface in a longitudinal direction, a second track surface facing the first track surface, and relative movement along the longitudinal direction of the track rail. Possible slider, a rolling element rolling on a load track formed by the first track surface of the track rail and the second track surface of the slider, and the lower surface of the slider for sealing the load track. In the linear motion guide unit having the lower surface seal attached to the lower surface seal, the lower surface of the slider is provided with a protrusion having a locking protrusion protruding in the width direction and extending in the longitudinal direction at the tip, and the lower surface seal is provided. A fitting recess into which the protrusion can be fitted, and a locking claw that extends in the longitudinal direction continuously with the fitting recess and that engages with the locking projection provided on the projection at least one side portion To prepare for the opening and shape It is about a linear motion guide unit according to claim. Here, the rolling element is a ball or a roller, the raceway surface includes a raceway groove, and at least one side is a concept including one side or both sides of the opening.

The slider is a casing in which the second raceway surface and a return path along which the rolling element rolls are formed.
An end, which is fixed to both end surfaces of the casing and has a direction change path that communicates with the second raceway surface and the return path to change the rolling direction of the rolling element, and is provided with the protrusion. It has a cap, an end seal fixed to the end surface of the end cap, and a holding plate extending along the longitudinal direction of the casing for holding the rolling element. Here, the holding plate is a concept including a rod-shaped, plate-shaped, or band-shaped one.

In this linear motion guide unit, the fitting recess and the opening formed in the lower surface seal are provided at both ends of the lower surface seal corresponding to the protrusions provided in the end cap. , Are oriented in the same direction in the longitudinal direction, and the fitting recesses and the openings are arranged at the same intervals. Further, the protruding portion formed on the slider for fixing the lower surface seal is provided on a flat bottom surface of the track rail side recessed portion formed on the lower surface of the end cap.

The length of the protrusion formed on the slider, the length of the fitting recess formed on the lower surface seal in the longitudinal direction, and the length of the opening in the longitudinal direction are substantially the same. Are formed respectively.

The lower surface seal has a cored bar provided with the locking claw extending in the longitudinal direction on at least one side of the opening, and an elastic member fixed to the cored bar for sealing the load track path. It is composed of a sealing member having.

The cored bar of the lower surface seal forms a cored bar opening that forms the opening provided with the locking claw, and the fitting recess extending continuously in the longitudinal direction from the cored bar opening. It comprises a flat portion in which a core metal fitting hole is formed, and an inclined portion which is integral with the flat portion and which extends in the longitudinal direction in contact with an inclined surface forming the recessed portion of the slider.

The tip of the locking claw provided in the cored bar opening formed in the cored bar of the lower surface seal is provided with a locking claw that comes into contact with the root of the protrusion of the slider. The seal member is fixed.

The sealing member of the lower surface seal is a first sealing member extending and fixed to the lower surface side of the cored bar over the entire length, and the upper surface side of the cored bar is thinner on the lower surface in the longitudinal direction of the casing of the slider. A second seal member having an upwardly projecting sealing projection extending in contact with an inclined surface of the portion and extending in the longitudinal direction; It is composed of members.

The first seal member is provided with a seal fitting recess having a seal opening forming the opening and a thin portion extending in the longitudinal direction continuously from the seal opening and closing the fitting recess. And the seal opening has a width narrower than the width of the core bar opening formed between the locking claws of the core bar and substantially equal to the width of the protrusion of the slider, The core fitting hole and the seal fitting recess have substantially the same width.

A tip portion of the thin portion on the seal opening side is formed as a seal protrusion protruding toward the core metal side. Moreover, with the lower surface seal attached to the end cap, it is formed so as to come into contact with the longitudinal end surface of the projecting portion of the end cap on the wall surface of the seal projection on the seal opening side. If it is set, the sealing performance can be improved.

The first seal member has a first lip portion extending in the longitudinal direction which contacts the side surface of the track rail and a second lip portion extending in the longitudinal direction which contacts the slope of the recessed portion formed on the lower surface of the slider. It is composed of

In this linear motion guide unit, the base of the protrusion formed on the end cap of the slider is
A fitting groove extending in the longitudinal direction is formed between the lower surface of the end cap and the locking convex portion, and the locking claw formed on the core metal of the lower surface seal is inserted into and engaged with the fitting groove. The lower surface seal is fixed to the end cap.

In this linear motion guide unit, the protrusion provided on the slider is fitted in the fitting recess formed in the core metal of the lower surface seal, and the locking claw of the lower surface seal is projected. By fitting into the fitting groove of the part,
The lower surface seal can be fixed to the end cap.

In this linear motion guide unit, the slider moves relative to the track rail while straddling the track rail.

This linear motion guide unit is, as described above,
A protrusion having a locking projection is provided on the lower surface of the end cap that constitutes the slider, and a lower surface seal is provided with a fitting recess into which the projection can be fitted and a locking claw that engages with the locking projection. Since the openings provided on both sides in the direction are provided, the projections of the end caps are simply fitted into the fitting recesses of the lower surface seal, and the projections are simply moved relative to the openings. The engaging claw can be easily and surely engaged, and the lower surface seal can be stably fixed to the slider.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a linear motion guide unit according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This linear motion guide unit is used, for example, in semiconductor manufacturing equipment, precision measurement /
It is used by incorporating it into various small and large machinery such as inspection machines, precision assembly machines, machine tools, and industrial robots. This linear motion guide unit is applied, for example, by interposing between a fixed body such as a bed and a moving body such as a table that move relatively to each other. As shown in FIG. It is composed of a rail 1 and a slider 2 slidable along the longitudinal direction of the track rail 1. The lower surface 15, 17 of the slider 2 is formed in a concave shape, and the concave portion crosses the track rail 1 and relatively moves.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the linear motion guide unit of this embodiment has a track rail 1 having a pair of track surfaces 13 (first track surfaces) formed on both side surfaces 38 in the longitudinal direction. , A slider 2 having a raceway surface 14 (second raceway surface) opposed to the raceway surface 13 and relatively movable along the longitudinal direction of the raceway rail 1, and a slider 2 for sealing the load raceway 10. It has a lower surface seal 18 provided on the lower surface 15 of the end cap 6. The slider 2 is. A pair of raceway surfaces 14 and a return path 9 as a pair of unloaded raceways on which the rolling elements 3 roll are respectively fixed to both end surfaces 48 of the casing 5 and the casing 5, and the rolling elements 3 roll. A pair of unloaded orbital direction change paths 12 (FIG. 4) communicating with the raceway surface 14 and the return path 9 for changing direction is formed and fixed to the end caps 6 and 6 of the end cap 6. It has an end seal 24 and a holding plate 7 having a holding surface 45 extending along the longitudinal direction of the casing 5 for holding the rolling elements 3.

In this linear motion guide unit, the end cap 6 is provided with an oil supply groove 30 (FIG. 4) communicating with the grease nipple in order to smooth the rolling of the rolling element 3. The end cap 6 and the end seal 24 are fixed to the casing 5 by mounting screws 42. The turning path 12 formed in the end cap 6 is a shallow turning path 29 that connects the upper load track 10 and the lower return path 9 through the connecting portion 60, and the lower load track. 10 and a direction change path 28 which is connected to the upper return path 9 through the connection portion 60 and which bypasses the outside of the direction change path 29 and has a long overall length and a deep depth. The connecting portion 60 provided on the end cap 6 is provided with a direction change path 1 of the end cap 6 with respect to a return path 9 of the casing 5.
2 has a function of positioning and connecting.

This linear motion guide unit comprises a rolling element 3 composed of a plurality of rollers rolling on a load raceway 10 composed of a raceway surface 13 of a raceway rail 1 and a raceway surface 14 of a casing 5.
Is provided so that the slider 2 can relatively smoothly move on the track rail 1. Further, in this embodiment, the separators 4 are arranged between the adjacent rolling elements 3. The track rail 1 is mounted on a bed or the like by mounting bolts that pass through a plurality of mounting holes 40 formed on the upper surface 43 in a spaced manner, and the slider 2 is formed with screw holes formed at a plurality of positions on the upper surface 44. A table or the like is attached by an attachment bolt screwed into 41. Therefore, when the slider 2 reciprocates relative to the track rail 1, the table can reciprocate relative to the bed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in this embodiment, a pair of raceway surfaces 13 formed on the raceway rail 1 are formed on both side surfaces 38 on both upper and lower sides of a groove 39 extending in the longitudinal direction. ing. Also, the raceway surface 1 formed on the slider 2
Reference numerals 4 are respectively formed so as to face the track surface 13 of the track rail 1 and sandwich a locking groove 46 formed in the casing 5 for locking the holding plate 7.
Further, the endless circulation path in which the plurality of rolling elements 3 and the separator 4 infinitely circulate is a pair of load track paths 1 formed between the track surface 13 of the track rail 1 and the track surface 14 of the casing 5.
0, a direction change path 12 provided in the end cap 6 connected to the load track way 10, and a return path 9 provided in the casing 5 connected to the direction change path 12, respectively. In this embodiment, the rolling element 3 is
They are separated by a separator 4 and are incorporated so as to roll in an infinite circulation path. Separator 4
Are arranged between the rolling elements 3 and, for example, embrace the rolling elements 3 to realize smooth rolling of the rolling elements 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, in order to grind the raceway surface 14 of the casing 5, a grindstone recess 19 is formed in the shape of a slope 21 on the lower surface 17 of the raceway rail 1 side. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the end cap 6 is provided with a recessed portion 16 on the lower surface 15 on the track rail 1 side, like the casing 5. The slanted portion 16 of the end cap 6 is formed of a slanted surface 31 which is flush with the slanted surface 21 of the slidable portion 19 of the casing 5 and a horizontal flat bottom surface 32 on the track rail 1 side.

In this linear motion guide unit, the lower surface seal 1
As shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3, 8 is housed in the recessed portion 19 of the casing 5 and the recessed portion 16 of the end cap 6, that is, the space for the grindstone, which constitutes the slider 2, and the lower surface of the slider 2, that is, the slider 8. Casing 5 constituting 2
Of the end cap 6 and the lower surface 15 of the end cap 6 so as not to project. Bottom seal 18
Is composed of a cored bar 22 made of a rigid body such as metal, and an elastic seal member 23 fixed to the cored bar 22. Specifically, the seal member 23 of the lower surface seal 18 is
It is made of an elastic member that is baked and molded on the cored bar 22. The lower surface seal 18 is, in particular, as shown in FIG.
The upper surface of the lower surface seal 18 is the recessed portion 1 of the end cap 6.
It is formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of 6. Further, the core metal 22 of the lower surface seal 18 has a plate-like shape, and is formed in a shape that substantially matches the recessed portion 16. The lower surface seal 18 has a length matching between the end seals 24 arranged on the end surface 49 of the end cap 6, and the slider 2
Bottom surface 17 of the casing 5 and the end cap 6 that constitute the
The bottom surface 15 extends over the entire length and is sealed so that there is no gap between the track rail 1 and the slider 2.

The seal member 23 of the lower surface seal 18 is a first seal member 33 extending over the entire length and fixed to the lower surface 58 side of the core metal 22, the upper surface 57 side of the core metal 22 and the longitudinal lower surface 17 side of the casing 5. The slope 21 of the non-container part 19
The second seal member 34 having a seal convex portion that extends in the longitudinal direction in contact with the upper surface 57 of the core metal 22.
The third seal member 35 extends along the lower surface 15 in the longitudinal direction of the end cap 6 on the side. Although the upper surface 57 of the cored bar 22 mainly appears on the upper surface of the lower surface seal 18, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the track rail 1 side at both ends constitutes the third sealing member 35. It has a structure in which thin-walled rubber is seized on the core metal 22. In addition, in the central portion of the lower surface seal 18, the second seal member 3
The seal protrusions constituting No. 4 are burnt on the core metal 22. The seal protrusion of the second seal member 34 is
8 is fixed to the end cap 6, the lower surface seal 1
Since 8 is long, in order to absorb the bending and the like, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the slope portion 63 is firmly attached to the slope surface 21 of the casing 5 to support the lower surface seal 18 on the slider 2, so that the slope portion 63 is made of an elastic member so as to be in a pressed state. That is, the seal convex portion of the second seal member 34 has a function of a support portion for disposing the central portion of the lower surface seal 18 along the slope 21 of the casing 5.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the sealing member 23
In order to seal the side surface 38 of the track rail 1 and the lower surface 17 of the slider 2 in the longitudinal direction, the first sealing member 33 of the first seal member 33 contacts the side surface 38 of the track rail 1 and extends in the longitudinal direction (first lip portion). ), And the slopes 21, 31 of the recessed portions 16, 19 between the lower surface 17 of the casing 5 and the lower surface 15 of the end cap 6 provided on the opposite side of the lip portion 26.
Has a lip portion 27 (second lip portion) that extends in the longitudinal direction and contacts with the. Lip portions 26, 2 of the lower surface seal 18
7 is formed of an elastic member made of synthetic rubber and extending along the longitudinal direction on its side surface. In the state where the lower surface seal 18 is attached to the slider 2, the lip portion 27 is pressed against the inclined surface 21 of the casing 5 so that the lip portion 27 surely comes into close contact with the inclined surface 21 of the casing 5 to improve the sealing performance. It is made of elastic material. Further, the lip portion 26 of the lower surface seal 18 is elastically abutted on the side surface 38 of the track rail 1 so as to improve the sealing property with the track rail 1, but the slider 2 with respect to the track rail 1 is formed. The sliding resistance is not increased.

In this linear motion guide unit, a projecting portion 8 is provided on the lower surface 15 of the end cap 6 constituting the slider 2 inside the lower surface on the casing 5 side, and the projecting portion 8 projects at both ends in the width direction. Locking projection 11 extending in the longitudinal direction
Is provided. Further, the lower surface seal 18 is engaged with a fitting concave portion 51 into which the protruding portion 8 can be fitted, and a locking convex portion 11 which is continuous with the fitting concave portion 51 and extends in the longitudinal direction and which is provided on the protruding portion 8. Opening 37 with locking claws 50 on both sides in the longitudinal direction
And are formed. Further, the fitting recess 51 and the opening 37 formed on the lower surface seal 18 are provided at both ends of the lower surface seal 18 corresponding to the protrusions 8 provided on the end cap 6, and are oriented in the same direction in the longitudinal direction. The mating recess 5
The space 1 and the space between the openings 37 are arranged at the same interval. That is, at both ends of the cored bar 22 which constitutes the lower surface seal 18,
Locking claws 50 are provided so as to face each other in the longitudinal direction of the opening 37, and the core metal opening 4 is provided between the locking claws 50 facing each other.
7 are formed. In addition, the protruding portion 8 provided on the end cap 6 has a locking protrusion protruding in a T shape when viewed from the front on the horizontal flat bottom surface 32 of the recessed portion 16 on the track rail 1 side of the end cap 6. 11 are formed on both sides in the longitudinal direction, and a fitting groove 20 into which the locking claw 50 of the lower surface seal 18 is fitted is formed between the lower surface 15 of the end cap 6 and the locking projection 11.

Further, the cored bar 22 of the lower surface seal 18 has a cored bar opening 47 forming an opening 37 having a locking claw 50.
And a flat portion 61 (FIG. 9) in which a core metal fitting hole 53 that forms a fitting recess 51 extending in the longitudinal direction continuously from the core metal opening 47 is formed, and is integrated with the flat portion 61. The casing 5 includes an inclined portion 56 that extends in the longitudinal direction in contact with the slope 21 that forms the recessed portion 19. Further, the total length of the fitting concave portion 51 and the opening portion 37 formed in the lower surface seal 18 is about twice the length of the locking convex portion 11, and the protruding portion 8 formed in the end cap 6 is formed. , The length of the fitting recess 51 formed in the lower surface seal 18 in the longitudinal direction, and the length of the opening 37 formed in the lower surface seal 18 in the longitudinal direction are substantially the same. There is.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the locking claw 50 is
The core bar opening 47 formed in the core bar 22 of the lower surface seal 18
Between the facing surfaces of the locking claws 50, and a sealing member 59 with a locking claw made of elastic synthetic rubber is fixed to the end surfaces of the locking claws 50 facing each other by seizure or the like. It comes into contact with the stem 25 at the root of the protrusion 8. That is, in the seal member 59, a thin synthetic rubber is fixed by baking to the tip end surface of the locking claw 50 between the inner widths of the locking claw 50 facing each other. The seal member 59 is formed in the fitting groove 20 of the locking protrusion 11 of the protrusion 8 of the end cap 6.
When the locking claw 50 of the lower surface seal 18 is fitted to the stem 25 forming the above, there is no rattling between the two and it is surely fixed in a hermetically sealed state. Therefore, the width between the seal members 59 on the tip end surface of the locking claw 50 including the seal member 59 is zero or smaller than the diameter (width) of the stem 25 that constitutes the fitting groove 20 of the protrusion 8 provided on the end cap 6. It is a little shiro. In other words, the width between the seal members 59 of the locking claws 50 on both sides is zero or slightly smaller than the diameter (width) of the stem 25 forming the fitting groove 20. Further, the width between the locking claws 50 of the cored bar 22 is formed to be slightly larger than the diameter (width) of the stem 25 forming the fitting groove 20.

As described above, the lower surface seal 18 is formed with the fitting recess 51 and the opening 37 at both ends in the longitudinal direction so as to face the locking projection 11 of the projection 8 of the end cap 6. . Specifically, the first seal member 3 of the seal member 23
3, a seal fitting recess 54 having a seal opening 52 that constitutes the opening 37 and a thin portion 36 that extends in the longitudinal direction continuously from the seal opening 52 and closes the fitting recess 51.
And are formed. The seal opening 52 is narrower than the width of the core metal opening 47 formed between the locking claws 50 of the core metal 22 and is substantially equal to the width of the protruding portion 8 of the end cap 6, and the core metal fitting hole. 53 and the seal fitting recess 54 have substantially the same width. That is, the fitting concave portion 51 forms a core metal 22 that forms an inlet portion of a size that allows the head portion of the locking convex portion 11 to be reasonably fitted into the lower surface seal 18 in the direction toward the horizontal flat bottom surface 32 of the end cap 6. Of the core metal fitting hole 53 and a seal fitting recess 54 of a size matching the core metal fitting hole 53. Further, the locking projection 11 of the projection 8 is fitted into the core metal fitting hole 53 and the seal fitting recess 54 (A in FIG. 12), and the lower surface seal 18 is slidably contacted with the bottom surface 32 of the end cap 6.
When the lower surface seal 18 is moved along the longitudinal direction (B in FIG. 12), the locking claws 50 of the lower surface seal 18 are locked by the locking projections 1.
It is configured to be fitted into the stem 25 forming the one fitting structure 20.

In this embodiment, the first seal member 33 of the seal member 23 constituting the lower surface seal 18 is formed with the fitting recess 51 having the thin portion 36 made of an elastic member. Of course, it may be formed in the fitting hole without providing. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 9,
When the fitting recess 51 is formed in the first seal member 33, the thin portion 36 is located on the lower surface side of the lower surface seal 18, and the boundary portion of the opening portion 37 is formed at the tip portion 55 of the thin portion 36 on the opening portion 37 side. A pad-shaped seal projection 62 is formed on the inner surface. That is, the seal opening 5 of the thin portion 36 of the first seal member 33.
The tip portion 55 on the second side is formed on a seal protrusion 62 protruding toward the core metal 22 side. The seal projection 62 seals between the locking projection 11 and the opening 37. Further, the lower surface of the locking claw 50 is an opening hole as the opening 37 on the molding die.

At the base of the protrusion 8 formed on the end cap 6, that is, the stem 25, the lower surface 1 of the end cap 6
5 and the engaging projection 20 extending in the longitudinal direction
Is formed, and the locking claw 50 formed on the core metal 22 of the lower surface seal 18 is inserted into and engaged with the fitting groove 20 and the end cap 6
The lower surface seal 18 is fixed to. That is, the locking protrusion 1
In particular, as shown in FIG. 11 (A), in No. 1, a fitting groove 20 into which the locking claw 50 of the lower surface seal 18 is fitted is formed on the side surface along the longitudinal direction. Since the protrusions 8 have the fitting grooves 20 formed on both side surfaces, the stem 25 can be seen from the front.
It has a T-shaped projecting shape with the locking projection 11 placed thereon.

With respect to this linear motion guide unit, a process of fixing the lower surface seal 18 to the end cap 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 (A) and (B) and FIGS. 12 (A) and 12 (B). . 11 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the lower surface seal 18 is engaged with the end cap 6, and is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the end cap 6 is partially enlarged in the back direction.
11A shows a state in which the fitting concave portion 51 of the lower surface seal 18 faces the locking convex portion 11 of the end cap 6, and FIG. 11B shows the locking claw 50 of the lower surface seal 18. Shows the state in which the fixing projection 11 of the end cap 6 is fitted and the fixing is completed. Further, FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of a state in which the lower surface seal 18 is engaged with the end cap 6 as seen in a partially enlarged cross-section along the longitudinal direction.
2 (A) shows a state in which the fitting recess 51 of the lower surface seal 18 is inserted into the locking projection 11 of the end cap 6, and FIG. 12 (B) shows the locking claw of the lower surface seal 18. Reference numeral 50 shows the state in which the fixing protrusion 50 of the end cap 6 is fitted into the fitting groove 20 and the fixing is completed. That is, regarding this linear motion guide unit, first, as shown in FIG.
The fitting recess 51 of the lower surface seal 18 is located below the protruding portion 8 of the end cap 6, and then the fitting recess 51 formed in the core metal 22 of the lower surface seal 18 as shown in FIG. The protruding portion 8 provided on the end cap 6 is fitted into. After that, as shown in (A) and (B) of FIG.
The lower surface seal 18 can be fixed to the end cap 6 by fitting the locking claw 50 of the lower surface seal 18 into the fitting groove 20 of the protrusion 8.

In the linear motion guide unit according to the present invention, in the above embodiment, the locking projection 1 provided on the projection 8 of the slider 2 is used.
1 shows the side portions on both sides of the projecting portion 8 and the locking claws 50 provided on the openings 37 of the lower surface seal 18 on both sides of the opening portion 37. Not limited to the example, both the locking projection 11 and the locking claw 50 may be provided only on one side, or one side is one side.
The other may be provided on both sides. Further, as the rolling element 3, a linear motion guide unit incorporating a roller is shown, but the rolling element is not limited to the roller and may be a ball, and the linear motion guide unit in which the rolling element incorporates a ball. If so, the holding plate for holding the ball will normally use a band type.

[0038]

Since the linear motion guide unit according to the present invention is constructed as described above, the lower surface seal is provided on the end cap of the slider and the sealing member of the lower surface seal is hardly elastically deformed. In addition, even in a large linear motion guide unit, the lower surface seal can be smoothly and firmly fixed to the slider without damaging the sealing function of the lower surface seal. You can

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view including a partial cross section showing an embodiment of a linear motion guide unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the linear motion guide unit shown in FIG. 1, showing a widthwise half thereof in cross section.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion A in FIG.

4 is a rear view showing an end cap of the linear motion guide unit of FIG. 1. FIG.

5 is a bottom view showing the end cap of FIG. 4. FIG.

6 is a plan view showing a lower surface seal of the linear motion guide unit of FIG. 1. FIG.

7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing the lower surface seal of FIG.

9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

10 is a plan view showing a cored bar in the lower surface seal shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the lower surface seal engages with the end cap, which is seen by enlarging a part from the rear surface direction of the end cap.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a part of a cross section taken along the longitudinal direction showing a state where the lower surface seal is engaged with the end cap.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 track rail 2 slider 3 rolling elements 5 casing 6 End cap 7 holding plate 8 protrusion 9 Return road 10 load track 11 Locking protrusion 12, 28, 29 Turn around 13,14 Orbital plane 15, 17 bottom surface 16, 19 Null part 18 Bottom seal 20 Fitting groove 21,31 slope 22 core metal 23 Seal member 24 End seal 26 First Lip 27 Second lip part 32 Bottom 33 First Seal Member 34 Second seal member 35 Third Seal Member 36 Thin part 37 opening 38 sides 47 core metal opening 48, 49 end face 50 locking claws 51 Fitting recess 52 Seal opening 53 Core bar fitting hole 54 Seal fitting recess 55 Tip 56 slope 57 Top 58 Lower surface 59 Sealing member with locking claw 61 Flat part 62 Seal protrusion

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] March 4, 2003 (2003.3.4)

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Claim 10

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0014

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

The first seal member is provided with a seal fitting recess having a seal opening forming the opening and a thin portion extending in the longitudinal direction continuously from the seal opening and closing the fitting recess. And the seal opening is narrower than the width of the core bar opening formed between the locking claws provided on both sides of the core bar and is substantially equal to the width of the protrusion of the slider. The width of the core metal fitting hole and the width of the seal fitting recess are substantially the same.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0022

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the linear motion guide unit of this embodiment is provided with both side surfaces 38 in the longitudinal direction of the track rail 1.
A pair of raceway surfaces 13 (first raceway surface) respectively formed on the
The track rail 1 having the track rails 1 and the track surface 14 (second track surface) facing the track surface 13 respectively, and the slider 2, which is relatively movable along the longitudinal direction of the track rail 1, and the load track path 10 are sealed. Therefore, it has a lower surface seal 18 provided on the lower surface 15 of the end cap 6 constituting the slider 2. The slider 2 includes a pair of raceway surfaces 14 and rolling elements 3.
And a raceway surface 14 for changing the rolling direction of the rolling element 3, which are respectively fixed to both end surfaces 48 of the casing 5 and the casing 5 in which a return path 9 as a pair of unloaded raceways for rolling is formed. The end cap 6 and the end surface 4 of the end cap 6 in which the direction change path 12 (FIG. 4) as a pair of unloaded track paths communicating with the return path 9 is formed.
It has an end seal 24 fixed to 9 and a holding plate 7 having a holding surface 45 extending along the longitudinal direction of the casing 5 for holding the rolling elements 3.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0027

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

In this linear motion guide unit, the lower surface seal 1
As shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3, 8 is housed in the recessed portion 19 of the casing 5 and the recessed portion 16 of the end cap 6, that is, the space for the grindstone, which constitutes the slider 2, and the lower surface of the slider 2, that is, the slider 8. Casing 5 constituting 2
Of the end cap 6 and the lower surface 15 of the end cap 6 so as not to project. Bottom seal 18
Is composed of a cored bar 22 made of a rigid body such as metal, and an elastic seal member 23 fixed to the cored bar 22. Specifically, the seal member 23 of the lower surface seal 18 is
It is made of an elastic member which is Installing baked molding to the core 22. The lower surface seal 18 is, in particular, as shown in FIG.
The upper surface of the lower surface seal 18 is the recessed portion 1 of the end cap 6.
It is formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of 6. Further, the core metal 22 of the lower surface seal 18 has a plate-like shape, and is formed in a shape that substantially matches the recessed portion 16. The lower surface seal 18 has a length matching between the end seals 24 arranged on the end surface 49 of the end cap 6, and the slider 2
Bottom surface 17 of the casing 5 and the end cap 6 that constitute the
The bottom surface 15 extends over the entire length and is sealed so that there is no gap between the track rail 1 and the slider 2.

[Procedure Amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0028

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

The seal member 23 of the lower surface seal 18 is a first seal member 33 extending over the entire length and fixed to the lower surface 58 side of the core metal 22, the upper surface 57 side of the core metal 22 and the longitudinal lower surface 17 side of the casing 5. The slope 21 of the non-container part 19
The second seal member 34 having a seal convex portion that extends in the longitudinal direction in contact with the upper surface 57 of the core metal 22.
The third seal member 35 extends along the lower surface 15 in the longitudinal direction of the end cap 6 on the side. Although the upper surface 57 of the cored bar 22 mainly appears on the upper surface of the lower surface seal 18, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the track rail 1 side at both ends constitutes the third sealing member 35. thin shaped rubber has only structural image sticking to the core 22. In addition, in the central portion of the lower surface seal 18, the second seal member 3
The convex protrusion of the seal member 4 is baked on the cored bar 22 . Since the lower face seal 18 is long, the under seal 18
With the end cap 6 firmly attached to the bottom seal 18
Of the second seal member 34 in order to absorb the bending of the
Projections, as shown in FIG. 3, the inclined surface portion 63 the casing 5
Since the lower surface seal 18 is supported by the slider 2 while being surely brought into close contact with the inclined surface 21, it is made of an elastic member so as to be in a pressed state. That is, the seal convex portion of the second seal member 34 has a function of a support portion for disposing the central portion of the lower surface seal 18 along the slope 21 of the casing 5.
It

[Procedure correction 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0032

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the locking claw 50 is
The core bar opening 47 formed in the core bar 22 of the lower surface seal 18
Is formed between the opposing surfaces, also to the opposing front end surface of the locking claw 50, synthetic rubber latching claw seal member 59 having elasticity is fixed in Installing shrink like, the sealing member 59 is the end The stem 25 at the base of the protruding portion 8 of the cap 6 is brought into contact with the stem 25. That is, in the seal member 59, a thin synthetic rubber is fixed by baking to the tip end surface of the locking claw 50 between the inner widths of the locking claw 50 facing each other. The seal member 59 is formed in the fitting groove 20 of the locking protrusion 11 of the protrusion 8 of the end cap 6.
When the locking claw 50 of the lower surface seal 18 is fitted to the stem 25 forming the above, there is no rattling between the two and it is surely fixed in a hermetically sealed state. Therefore, the width between the seal members 59 on the tip end surface of the locking claw 50 including the seal member 59 is zero or smaller than the diameter (width) of the stem 25 that constitutes the fitting groove 20 of the protrusion 8 provided on the end cap 6. It is a little shiro. In other words, the width between the seal members 59 of the locking claws 50 on both sides is zero or slightly smaller than the diameter (width) of the stem 25 forming the fitting groove 20. Further, the width between the locking claws 50 of the cored bar 22 is formed to be slightly larger than the diameter (width) of the stem 25 forming the fitting groove 20.

[Procedure Amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0033

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

As described above, the lower surface seal 18 is formed with the fitting recess 51 and the opening 37 at both ends in the longitudinal direction so as to face the locking projection 11 of the projection 8 of the end cap 6. . Specifically, the first seal member 3 of the seal member 23
3, a seal fitting recess 54 having a seal opening 52 that constitutes the opening 37 and a thin portion 36 that extends in the longitudinal direction continuously from the seal opening 52 and closes the fitting recess 51.
And are formed. The seal opening 52 is narrower than the width of the core metal opening 47 formed between the locking claws 50 of the core metal 22 and is substantially equal to the width of the protruding portion 8 of the end cap 6, and the core metal fitting hole. 53 and the seal fitting recess 54 have substantially the same width. That is, the fitting concave portion 51 forms a core metal 22 that forms an inlet portion of a size that allows the head portion of the locking convex portion 11 to be reasonably fitted into the lower surface seal 18 in the direction toward the horizontal flat bottom surface 32 of the end cap 6. Of the core metal fitting hole 53 and a seal fitting recess 54 of a size matching the core metal fitting hole 53. Further, the locking projection 11 of the projection 8 is fitted into the core metal fitting hole 53 and the seal fitting recess 54 (A in FIG. 12), and the lower surface seal 18 is slidably contacted with the bottom surface 32 of the end cap 6.
When the lower surface seal 18 is moved along the longitudinal direction (B in FIG. 12), the locking claws 50 of the lower surface seal 18 are locked by the locking projections 1.
It is configured to be fitted into the stem 25 forming the one fitting groove 20.

[Procedure Amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0038

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0038]

A linear motion guide unit of this, according to the invention, which is configured as described above, when mounting the under seal, without giving almost elastically deformed sealing member of the under seal, smooth under seal to the end cap to be quickly and easily and reliably attached to, can have One to linear motion guide unit of a large, the under seal to the slider, without damaging that compromises the sealing function of the under seal, to smoothly, it can be reliably and firmly fixed. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] March 11, 2003 (2003.3.1)
1)

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0033

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

As described above, the lower surface seal 18 is formed with the fitting recess 51 and the opening 37 at both ends in the longitudinal direction so as to face the locking projection 11 of the projection 8 of the end cap 6. . Specifically, the first seal member 3 of the seal member 23
3, a seal fitting recess 54 having a seal opening 52 that constitutes the opening 37 and a thin portion 36 that extends in the longitudinal direction continuously from the seal opening 52 and closes the fitting recess 51.
And are formed. Sealing the opening 52, the wide than the width of the core opening 47 formed between the locking claws 50 of the core 22
In addition , the width of the protruding portion 8 of the end cap 6 is substantially equal to that of the protruding portion 8 of the end cap 6. That is, the fitting concave portion 51 forms a core metal 22 that forms an inlet portion of a size that allows the head portion of the locking convex portion 11 to be reasonably fitted into the lower surface seal 18 in the direction toward the horizontal flat bottom surface 32 of the end cap 6. Of the core metal fitting hole 53 and a seal fitting recess 54 of a size matching the core metal fitting hole 53. Further, the locking projection 11 of the projection 8 is fitted into the core metal fitting hole 53 and the seal fitting recess 54 (A in FIG. 12), and the lower surface seal 18 is slidably contacted with the bottom surface 32 of the end cap 6.
When the lower surface seal 18 is moved along the longitudinal direction (B in FIG. 12), the locking claws 50 of the lower surface seal 18 are locked by the locking projections 1.
It is configured to be fitted into the stem 25 forming the one fitting groove 20.

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A track rail having a first track surface formed on a longitudinal side surface, a second track surface facing the first track surface, and relatively movable along the longitudinal direction of the track rail. A slider, a rolling element rolling on a load track formed by the first track surface of the track rail and the second track surface of the slider, and attached to the lower surface of the slider to seal the load track In the linear motion guide unit having the lower surface seal, the lower surface of the slider is provided with a protrusion having a locking projection protruding at the tip in the width direction and extending in the longitudinal direction. At least one side portion is provided with a fitting recess into which the projection can be fitted, and a locking claw that extends in the longitudinal direction continuously to the fitting recess and that engages with the locking projection provided on the projection. And the opening is formed A linear motion guide unit characterized by this. 2. The slider is fixed to a casing having the second raceway surface and a return path along which the rolling element rolls, and fixed to both end surfaces of the casing, respectively, and changes the rolling direction of the rolling element. In order to do so, the direction change path communicating with the second raceway surface and the return path is formed, and the end cap provided with the projecting portion, the end seal fixed to the end surface of the end cap, and the rolling element are provided. The linear guide unit according to claim 1, further comprising a holding plate extending along a longitudinal direction of the casing for holding. 3. The fitting recess and the opening formed in the lower surface seal are provided at both ends of the lower surface seal corresponding to the protrusions provided in the end cap, and are the same in the longitudinal direction. 3. The linear motion guide unit according to claim 2, wherein the linear motion guide unit is oriented in the same direction, and the fitting recesses and the openings are arranged at the same interval. 4. The protruding portion formed on the slider for fixing the lower surface seal is provided on a flat bottom surface of the recessed portion on the track rail side formed on the lower surface of the end cap. The linear motion guide unit according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: 5. The length in the longitudinal direction of the protruding portion formed on the slider, the length in the longitudinal direction of the fitting recess formed in the lower surface seal, and the length in the longitudinal direction of the opening are The linear motion guide unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the linear motion guide units are formed to have substantially the same length. 6. The lower surface seal is fixed to the cored bar for sealing the load raceway and the cored bar provided with the locking claw extending in the longitudinal direction on at least one side of the opening. The linear motion guide unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the linear motion guide unit comprises an elastic seal member. 7. The cored bar of the lower surface seal includes a cored bar opening forming the opening with the locking claw, and a fitting recess extending continuously in the longitudinal direction from the cored bar opening. A flat portion having a core metal fitting hole, and an inclined portion which is integral with the flat portion and which extends in the longitudinal direction in contact with an inclined surface forming the recessed portion of the slider. The linear motion guide unit according to claim 6, wherein. 8. A lock which is brought into contact with a root portion of the protrusion of the slider, at a tip of the locking claw provided in the core opening formed in the core of the lower surface seal. The linear guide unit according to claim 7, wherein the claw-attached seal member is fixed. 9. The seal member of the lower surface seal is a first seal member extending and fixed to the lower surface side of the core metal over the entire length, and a lower surface in a longitudinal direction of the casing of the slider on the upper surface side of the core metal. A second seal member having an upwardly projecting sealing projection extending in contact with an inclined surface of the hollow portion of the slider and extending upward in the longitudinal direction; and a first sealing member extending along the lower surface in the longitudinal direction of the end cap of the slider on the upper surface side of the core metal. 7. It is composed of three sealing members.
The linear motion guide unit according to any one of to 8. 10. The seal fitting, wherein the first seal member includes a seal opening portion that constitutes the opening portion and a thin portion that continuously extends in the longitudinal direction of the seal opening portion and closes the fitting recess. A mating recess is formed, and the seal opening has a width smaller than the width of the cored bar opening formed between the locking claws of the cored bar and substantially equal to the width of the protrusion of the slider. 10. The linear motion guide unit according to claim 9, wherein the core metal fitting hole and the seal fitting recess have substantially the same width. 11. The linear motion guide unit according to claim 10, wherein a tip portion of the thin portion on the seal opening side is formed as a seal projection protruding toward the core metal side. . 12. The first sealing member includes a first lip portion extending in a longitudinal direction that contacts a side surface of the track rail,
The linear motion guide according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the linear motion guide comprises a second lip portion that extends in the longitudinal direction and contacts a slope of a recessed portion formed on the lower surface of the slider. unit. 13. A fitting groove extending in the longitudinal direction is formed between a lower surface of the end cap and the locking projection at a root portion of the protrusion formed on the end cap of the slider, and the lower surface is formed. 13. The lower surface seal is fixed to the end cap by inserting and engaging the locking claw formed on the core metal of the seal into the fitting groove, according to claim 1. The linear motion guide unit described. 14. The protrusion provided on the slider is fitted into the fitting recess formed in the core metal of the lower surface seal, and the locking claw of the lower surface seal is fitted into the fitting groove of the protruding portion. The lower surface seal can be fixed to the end cap by being fitted into the end cap.
The linear motion guide unit described in 3. 15. The linear motion guide unit according to claim 1, wherein the slider moves relative to the track rail while straddling the track rail.